Japan's No. 3 automaker now expects operating profit for the year ending March to come in at 790 billion yen, up from a previous forecast for 710 billion yen, after it reported a stronger-than-expected 40.2 percent jump in second-quarter operating profit to 214.4 billion yen.

With a strategy of loading up its revamped Ram 1500 full-size trucks with new features - ranging from 12-inch touch screens on the dashboard to large battery packs and electric motors to help adjust speed and gears and conserve fuel - the automaker is banking on a sustained surge in demand.